Merv resides in Kingaroy, the South Burnett, and is proprietor of Rowland Custom Saddles.

Merv spent his early years, from the age of nine to thirty three, on horse back working on large properties out west. It is here he saw the damage being done to horses backs from poorly fitted and constructed saddles.

In Australia a scheme was set up called a "Churchill Fellowship" which gave Australians the opportunity to travel overseas to gain knowledge in their chosen career. Merv's was saddle making and after passing three interviews he was accepted and travelled to the USA for three months becoming a student under Lawrence De Witt and Dale Harwood. On his return to Australia he was able to implement his new found knowledge and became a "Churchill Fellow" in leatherwork.

Merv has been constructing saddles for fifty years, producing mostly campdrafting , western and stock saddles in Mt Isa, Queensland. He became involved in endurance after building Ron Guascoine's endurance saddle. He stressed the importance of the tree and the saddle's rigging, two areas this saddle had major problems. He has designed and built a saddle for Barbara Timms, working closely with Barbara taking into account the weight factor for endurance.